SK doubts Navalny's lawyer status, questions him

Earlier on Wednesday, investigators questioned Navalny within the framework of the criminal case over misuse of the Kirovles property, and over his lawyer's status

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MOSCOW, February 27 (Itar-Tass) - The Investigative Committee /SK/ believes that Opposition activist Alexei Navalny could have illegally obtained the lawyer's status. "To have the lawyer's status, a minimal mandatory 2-year legal practice is required, in accordance with the legislation," SK spokesman Vladimir Markin said on Wednesday.

"Navalny submitted a certificate to the Kirov region's Bar that he had been deputy director general of the Allekt company for legal issues of several years' standing. It should be noted that Navalny is also the company director general. So he appointed himself as company director and his deputy," Markin said.

According to a handwriting expert examination, the signature in the certificate Navalny had shown does not belong not to the Allekta human resources inspector.

"On top of that, as of the time the entry in Navalny's employment record book appeared - which made it possible to issue a certificate of legal practice -- Allekt did not exist as economic entity. Therefore, the investigators concluded that the information Navalny had submitted to the qualifying board of the Kirov region's Bar regarding his legal practice of more than two years, is unauthentic," Markin stated.

Earlier on Wednesday, investigators questioned Navalny within the framework of the criminal case over misuse of the Kirovles property, and over his lawyer's status. However, Alexei Navalny refused to answer the questions regarding his status, citing Article 51 of the Constitution /which gives a person the right not to testify against himself - eds. Itar-Tass/, according to the SK spokesman.